Other People's Kids

Time With "Elaine"

I had to take "Pixie" to town to an appointment and "Elaine" decided to tag along.  I didn't mind...I like both of these kids a lot and it was a good chance to spend some time being the dad.

We dropped off "Pixie", and along the same block were several shops.  A thrift shop, a couple of antique places and so forth.  It's a tourist town.  So we decided to just browse some.

Let me first of all say that I strongly resent finding a Kiss album in an "antique" shop.  Okay, so it was vinyl.  But "Love Gun", while it may be a classic, is certainly not antique.  Ditto for Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet".  For cripe's sake, people!  These guys are still doing concerts!  Though, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of the Kiss guys take geritol...

Anyway, after taking "Elaine's" jokes at my expense and having a generally good time poking fun at some of the old stuff together, and after her being a good sport and going into a book shop with me, I let her drag me into a teen fashion place.  We tried on glasses...I don't think I would make a good-looking teen girl, by the look of me in those glasses.  She had a fit over some "Boyfriend Watches" that were labeled "Trend Alert!"  Personally, I don't think I have a use for a watch that has a "jelly band", whatever THAT means.  As we left, the only other male in the place was leaving too, with what looked like his wife and little girl.  He looked at me and muttered "was that as much fun for you as it was for me?"

While I'm guessing that I felt about the place about like he did, in my case it was totally worth it.  It's important, if you want to develop a good relationship with a kid, to sometimes do things that the kid wants to do, and to at least ACT like you're having a good time.  They know well enough that you're not going to have as good a time as them, but they tend to appreciate the effort, and it ties you together.  It also makes it easier for them to feel like they really should do things with you that they DON'T want so much to do if they know that maybe next time there will be something in it for them.

Give and take.  Sharing things.  Building relationships.  Those are, after all, the things that we wanted to get out of fostering, yes?

posted by Dan @ 7:40 PM